A very wet day didn’t deter a group of intrepid women joining us for another Westie Women food ride with The Squeaky Wheel.

The second edition of ‘Boun appetito by bike’ visited some slightly different venues to the previous ride as we celebrated everything Italian in the inner west with tour guide Joyce Watts of CycleStyle and MEL: HOT OR NOT.

First stop was Ovest for warming hot chocolates and potato doughnuts with chocolate mousse. Ovest were even kind enough to open up especially for us as they don’t usually trade during Saturday lunch times.

Second stop was Fox in the Corn for plates of steaming hot pasta. They even have bikes hung up as wall decoration so it’s the perfect stop for a bike tour!

Last stop was T Cavallaro and Sons for an Italian (or technically Sicilian) sweet. Always a crowd favourite, their cannoli are the best in Melbourne.

The June rides are now open for bookings! If you’re a woman who lives, works or plays in Melbourne’s inner west join me for a 1.5 hour cycling tour of the best food in the area for only $15 (including tour and tastings).

The sun was shining yet again for our latest Westie Women food ride with The Squeaky Wheel.

‘Boun appetito by bike’ celebrated everything Italian in the inner west with tour guide Joyce Watts of CycleStyle and MEL: HOT OR NOT.

In the 1950s Footscray was a centre for Italian migrants. Sixty years later eleven female cyclists joined Joyce to experience how Italian cuisine has been reinterpreted for modern Australians with a three course meal by bike.

Wheelie Good Day is a community gathering and street party in Melrose Street North Melbourne and it’s on this Sunday 1 May 11am-4pm.

The day is all about educating and training families to ride a bike plus a full with a program of workshops, tours and fun!

We’ll be there with the Book Swap Bike, a Christiania cargo bike filled with secondhand children’s books and a pop up reading lawn. Families are invited to either bring a book to swap, to borrow a book to read together or to participate in colouring-in and/or craft activities.

The designers of Aster claim that they’ve addressed 75% of the causes of bike accidents.

Aster‘s rear and profile lights make you visible to motorists from all sides, front lights signal your presence in rear-view mirrors and automatic brake lights help you avoid getting rear-ended. Integrated turn signals make sure that drivers around you know when you’re making a turn.

Control Aster’s light settings and more with their app (called the Lumos Aster app), available for both Android and iOS platforms. You can adjust your light settings to meet the regulations specific to your state or country. The app allows you to see the battery life remaining, both in the 4000mAh USB-chargeable battery and the handlebar unit.

Using the Lumos app and the handlebar-unit, you can lock your bike in its place with one tap! If your cycle is moved for more than 5 seconds once locked, an alarm is triggered to attract attention.

Aster also has several commuter-specific compartments – a minimalist helmet holder, a whistle buckle, tuck-away U-lock holder loops, zippered bottle pockets, rain-cover and an ‘In Case of Emergency’ information slot in the event of a crash.

You can pack a 15.6 inch laptop with charger, change of clothes and shoes, smaller gadgets, books, bike-tools and spares, rain-jacket, a 1 litre water bottle and even your lunch!

Aster is also weather-resistant, with a waterproof TPU coated exterior and rain-resistant zippers that cause water to bead up and roll off the surface.

Aster’s Indiegogo campaign ends on 30 April so get in quick to support the production of this innovative product!